Flooring Buying Checklist: Measure Before You Shop

Walking into a flooring store — especially a liquidator — without preparation is how buyers make expensive mistakes. The right preparation takes 30–60 minutes at home and prevents common errors that result in buying too much, too little, the wrong product, or a product you regret. Use this checklist before every flooring shopping trip.

Part 1: Measurements and Quantities

Room-by-Room Measurement

For every room that will receive new flooring, record:

• Room name: ___________
• Length: _______ feet
• Width: _______ feet
• Square footage (L x W): _______ sq ft
• Closet square footage (if applicable): _______ sq ft
• Total room square footage: _______ sq ft

Repeat for every room. Sum all rooms for a total.

Waste Factor Calculation

• Total area from all rooms: _______ sq ft
• Installation pattern planned:
  • Straight/parallel (+10% waste)
  • Diagonal (+15% waste)
  • Herringbone or chevron (+15-20% waste)
• Waste multiplier: _______
• Total square footage to purchase (area x multiplier): _______ sq ft

Stair Calculation (if applicable)

• Number of stairs: _______
• Tread depth: _______ inches
• Tread width: _______ inches
• Riser height: _______ inches
• Are you flooring risers or just treads? _______
• Total stair square footage: _______ sq ft

Room Dimensions for Problem-Solving

Write down individual room dimensions, not just square footage. This helps when evaluating whether a specific lot at a liquidator covers your needs and helps your installer plan layouts.

Part 2: Existing Floor and Subfloor Information

Current Flooring

• Current flooring type: ___________
• Will it be removed? [ ] Yes [ ] No [ ] Some rooms only
• Does removal/disposal need to be included in contractor quote? [ ] Yes

Subfloor Type

• Wood subfloor [ ] Concrete slab [ ] Existing tile [ ] Other: _______
• Subfloor condition: [ ] Good [ ] Needs repair: describe: ___________
• Any known moisture issues? [ ] Yes [ ] No
• Is this above-grade, on-grade, or below-grade (basement)?

Height Clearances

• Are there areas where floor height could be an issue?
  • Under appliances (refrigerator, dishwasher, toilet)
  • Under doors (do they need to be cut?)
  • Transition to adjacent flooring (height differential)
• What is the maximum additional thickness I can add? _______ inches

Part 3: Product Specifications

Before shopping, decide on your minimum acceptable specifications:

For LVP

• Minimum wear layer thickness: _______ mil (recommend 12-mil minimum residential)
• Core type preference: [ ] SPC [ ] WPC [ ] Either
• Minimum total thickness: _______ mm
• Radiant heat compatible required? [ ] Yes [ ] No
• Pre-attached underlayment needed? [ ] Preferred [ ] Either
• Installation method: [ ] Floating [ ] Glue-down [ ] Either

For Laminate

• Minimum AC rating: _______ (recommend AC3 minimum, AC4 for heavy use)
• Minimum thickness: _______ mm (recommend 8mm minimum)
• Moisture resistance requirement: [ ] Standard [ ] Enhanced water resistance

For Hardwood

• Type: [ ] Solid [ ] Engineered [ ] Either
• Species preference: ___________
• Grade preference: [ ] Clear/Select [ ] No. 1 Common [ ] No. 2 Common/Rustic
• Width: _______ inches (to match existing or preference)
• Finished or unfinished?

For Tile

• Minimum PEI rating: _______ (3 for residential, 4+ for high traffic)
• Size/format: ___________
• Rectified or non-rectified preference?
• Surface texture: [ ] Matte [ ] Polished [ ] Textured (for wet areas)

For Carpet

• Fiber type: [ ] Nylon (more durable) [ ] Polyester (softer) [ ] Either
• Pile height: [ ] Low [ ] Medium [ ] High
• Is stain resistance important? [ ] Yes [ ] No

Part 4: Budget

• Maximum material budget: $___________
• Expected installation budget: $___________
• Total project budget: $___________
• Cost per square foot budget (materials): $___________ /sq ft
• OK to exceed budget slightly for right product? [ ] Yes, by up to $_______ [ ] No

Part 5: Design Requirements

• Target color family: ___________
  • Very light (blonde, cream, white)
  • Medium light (greige, warm tan, light gray)
  • Medium (mid-brown, medium gray)
  • Dark (dark walnut, dark gray, charcoal)
• Color undertone preference: [ ] Warm [ ] Cool [ ] Neutral
• Surface texture preference: [ ] Smooth [ ] Wire-brushed [ ] Hand-scraped [ ] No preference
• Sheen level preference: [ ] Matte [ ] Satin [ ] Semi-gloss [ ] No preference
• Sample needed before committing? [ ] Yes [ ] No (I've already seen it in person)
• Needs to match existing adjacent flooring? [ ] Yes — bring sample!

Part 6: Practical Logistics

• How will I transport flooring from the store?
  • My vehicle: maximum payload _______ lbs
  • Renting a truck: [ ] Yes
  • Store delivery available? (ask the store): [ ] Yes [ ] No [ ] Unknown
• Do I have storage space to hold flooring before installation? [ ] Yes [ ] No
• Installation scheduled for: ___________
• Installer needs flooring how many days in advance to acclimate? _______ days

Part 7: What to Bring to the Store

Before leaving home, gather:

• This completed checklist
• A sample of existing flooring (if matching)
• Phone with photos of the rooms and any inspiration photos
• Tape measure (for measuring products in-store if needed)
• Calculator (or phone calculator)
• Payment method (check if they accept your preferred method)
• Vehicle capable of transporting your anticipated quantity

Part 8: At the Store — What to Check

When evaluating product at the liquidator:

• Brand name and product line identified
• All required specs meet my minimums (wear layer, AC rating, etc.)
• CARB2 or GREENGUARD certification visible on box
• Shade lot numbers verified consistent across all boxes I'm buying
• Opened a box and inspected sample planks
• Compared sample to my existing floor sample (if matching)
• Total available quantity is sufficient for my needs
• Return/exchange policy understood
• Price including waste factor calculated and within budget

Part 9: Before Paying

Final checks before purchase:

• I have calculated the number of boxes needed (total sq ft ÷ box coverage, rounded up)
• I am buying at least my calculated need, plus some buffer
• I understand the return/exchange policy for this store
• I have a receipt that includes product name, lot number, quantity, and price
• I have transport arranged

The Bottom Line

Preparation transforms a stressful, high-stakes shopping trip into a confident, well-executed purchase. Ten minutes spent completing this checklist before you shop saves hours of uncertainty at the store and prevents the costly mistakes that come from buying without clear information.